I finally stagger to my feet and make my way over to him. I need to finish this now. I’m in no condition to let this drag out any longer. I look at him professionally as I approach. He’s on all fours with his back to me. There’s no sense in me grabbing his neck from behind and trying to choke him. My arms won’t have enough strength in them to do the job — it’ll be like bear hugging a tree.
Instead, I settle for something less delicate and more effective. I gather as much momentum as I can and jump at him, diving toward him like a spear, and bringing my right elbow up. I slam it down into the base of his skull with every ounce of strength I have left in me. I hear the crack as the impact shatters the top of his spinal cord, killing him instantly. He falls forward, sprawling lifelessly across the floor. I land on top of him and roll off to the side, lying on my back and breathing heavily, which stings like hell because of my ribs. I’m staring at the ceiling, trying to count how many different parts of my body are currently hurting.
It takes me a minute, but I slowly manage to get to my feet and I make my way back over to the red curtain. I pull it to one side and reach down, retrieving my guns from the bucket. Thankfully, they were both still there. I put one in its holster and cock the other, holding it as steady as I can in my right hand, breathing in the comfort it gives me.
I walk slowly back into the office. Pellaggio’s still sitting behind the desk. Manhattan moves around to the front as I walk in, putting himself between Pellaggio, as a gesture of protection, and me.
I walk over to them, picking up the chair I kicked on the way past. I stand it up and sit in front of them. I rest my gun on my lap so they can see it, occasionally tapping my leg with the barrel as I take a moment to slow my breathing down.
“Now,” I say to them both. “Where were we?”
My entire body is screaming in pain, but I fight to keep my face expressionless for the purposes of making a point.
“Let’s get something straight,” I say to Pellaggio. Well, I think I said it to him — I can see three of him, so I’m playing it safe and talking to the middle one. “I don’t give a shit who you are, or how much of this city you own.”
He seems calm, despite the fact I’m sitting in front of him looking like a car wreck with a gun in my hand.
“You arrogant sonofabitch! You’ve cost me millions!” he replies, standing and slamming his palms on the desk in frustration and anger.
“Shut your mouth before you give yourself a heart attack, you old prick. I’m in no mood for any of your Godfather shit right now, okay?”
In fact, at this precise moment, medical attention and a shot of single malt are numbers one and two on my list of priorities.
“You’re in way over your head,” I continue. “You didn’t properly research Jackson’s involvement in all this. You have no idea what you’re up against. That was your first mistake. Your second is that now you’re dangerously close to underestimating me as well, which will not end well for you. You want my advice? Cut your losses and move on. Find somewhere else to expand your empire.”
There’s a moment’s silence in the room. I’ve noticed Manhattan hasn’t said anything, or even moved, since I came back in. Pellaggio clenches his jaw muscles repeatedly as he thinks of what to do with me.
“‘Jimmy,” he says, finally. “Fix this.” He points a finger at me as he speaks.
I have to hand it to the guy — he isn’t easily intimidated. I can understand why — guy like him, head of a crime syndicate with half the city on his payroll and more money than half the country put together. He’s probably been building that empire of his since he was a kid. People quake at the very mention of his name. Why would I worry him?
Manhattan looks at me, and then at my gun. He remains calm and I can see him planning his next words with care.
“Adrian, I don’t think you fully grasp the situation you’re in,” he says. “Mr. Pellaggio requires the deeds to that land. Life will become very difficult for you if you don’t do what we’ve paid you to do. You say Jackson is dead? That’s fine. But you need to find a way to get your hands on that paperwork.”
“Jimmy, let me save us both some time. You can’t make me do shit. We’re done here. You can keep my fee — I don’t care. That corpse out there was probably the best guy you had, which means we both know there’s no point sending anyone else after me. I see either of you again, I’ll kill you. And it will be slow, painful, and horrific… you have my word.”
Manhattan stares at me. I can see in his eyes that he believes me and if it was up to him, I suspect that would be the end of the matter. But I can also see the conflict inside, because it’s not up to him and his boss is in the room, red-faced and frowning, looking really pissed off. He told him to handle it and he did anything but.
“There’s nowhere for you to hide in this city where we can’t find you,” he says, tapping into some hidden reserve of confidence. “If you start down this road, it will be the end of you, Adrian. I can promise you that. Mr. Pellaggio doesn’t forgive, or forget. You should know that better than anyone — it’s the very reason you’re here.”
“So, what, you’re gonna hire me to kill myself?” I scoff in disbelief. “You fucking idiot. Take a look around, Jimmy. You hired me because I’m the absolute best at what I do. There’s no one you can bring in who can take me out, and we all know you’ve got no one on your payroll that can do it either. How’s about you quit with the empty threats, accept defeat like a man, and call it a day, yeah?”
Manhattan glances at Pellaggio, who hasn’t taken his eyes off me. I’m guessing because the longer this goes on, the more obvious it becomes that I’ve won, and that makes him even angrier.
“Let me explain something to you, kid,” says Pellaggio, his voice condescending and angry. “You need to fucking appreciate exactly who I am. You talk about my payroll — my payroll includes the police. And the local officials. And a lot of hired help up and down the West Coast.”
“Is that meant to impress me?” I reply casually.
“It’s not just this city you can’t hide in,” he continues. “It’s the state, the time zone, the whole fucking country! You cost me millions and I’ll make you pay, you arrogant sonofabitch!”
I appear to have touched a nerve with the big boss. And like a shark smelling blood in the water, I’m going in for the kill…
“Give me a moment to finish quaking in my boots…” I say, pausing for effect. “Now, let me explain something to you. You keep banging on about me having nowhere to hide from you… What makes you think I’d be hiding? I promise you, if there ever comes a time when I want to the settle the score between us, you have my word that I’ll come to your house, knock on your front door and smile as I wipe you off the face of this earth. You can get whoever you want to come after me — I’ll send them back to you in pieces. You must already know my reputation, but if you’re still in any doubt — ask around. I’m pretty sure you’ll find that most people out there know that I’m not one with whom to fuck. Now, from here on out, I’ll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine. Sound good to you?”
They both stare at me; there’s a palpable tension in the room, and Manhattan looks close to being afraid. But Pellaggio is defiant in his anger. Neither one of them reply.
“I’m glad we’re all in agreement,” I say.
Content that’s the end of the discussion, I stand and back out of the room, keeping my gun aimed at them until I reach the door. Manhattan moves around the front of the desk and perches on the end, his hands clasped on his lap. Pellaggio’s staring a hole through me. He hasn’t said anything, but I can almost taste his anger. He obviously isn’t used to not being able to scare people or get his own way.